Man in custody after Hemlock homicide discovered

HEMLOCK — A call from a concerned family member led to a grisly discovery in a small hamlet in Livingston County.

Sheriff’s deputies say it's the first homicide in Livingston County in nearly four years.

Friday night, investigators discovered the body of a woman in Hemlock. It was in a wooded area a short distance from a home. News10NBC, the Messenger's news partner, has learned the body had been there for some time.

This all unfolded on Bald Hill Road, also known as Route 15A.

Saturday night, the man who lives there, 61-year-old Gary Flemke is in custody. Flemke had not been charged with the murder of the female victim as of Saturday night.

He was, however, being held on another charge in connection with this investigation.

Flemke had nothing to say to News 10NBC as he was led out of the sheriff's office late Saturday afternoon, handcuffed and wearing a jail jumpsuit.

Investigators were called out to his home on Bald Hill Road in Hemlock Friday evening around 8 p.m. That's when the victim's son called 911 to say he hadn't heard from her and was concerned.

After several hours of searching, the woman's body was found in a wooded area on Flemke's property, but Flemke wasn't there. Police found him in Dansville and took him into custody.

Saturday evening, investigators were still on the scene gathering additional evidence.

As of Saturday night, the Livingston County Sheriff's Office was not identifying the woman by name, or saying how she was killed.

However, they did say they believe the victim is Flemke's wife and are simply waiting for further confirmation.

Saturday, Gary Flemke was being held on a single charge of tampering with physical evidence.

"The reason we have not pursued a murder charge at this point is just for identification reasons. So that will be forthcoming, again, after the body has been transferred and examined by the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office,” said Livingston County Sheriff Thomas Dougherty.

“We saw them bring in a couple of long guns, anything related to this?” asked News10NBC’s Brett Davidsen.

"Absolutely," said Sheriff Dougherty.

The Sheriff says it is not the first time they have been called out to that home, saying they have been there for past domestic calls.

As for Flemke, he was arraigned on the tampering with physical evidence charge and was being held on $250,000 cash bail or $500,000 bond.